Tea, Totally

My new thing with iced tea is I drink it with absolutely no sweetener. No sugar, no Splenda, no Sweet'n Low, no Sugar in the Raw, no Equal...you get the idea. To me, it's got plenty of flavor without adding in the sweet stuff, and I think this preference gives me an edge in judging the flavors of various teas. And THAT's why I'm gonna be the best darn non-celebrity judge at the 2nd Annual Best Iced Tea Contest, going on 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at The Plaza at Preston Center (8300-8400 Preston Road). The contest is searching for the best iced tea in the metroplex, and the People's Choice Award winner will be determined by the votes of regular folks like you and me. (And the whole thing benefits the North Texas Food Bank, so chug your tea samples guilt-free.) Participating restaurants include Craft, Houston's, Tin Star, Greenz, Kathleen's Sky Diner and more. A panel of celebrity judges, including Casey Thompson from Top Chef Season 3 and Stephan Pyles himself, will hand out the Judges' Award. Tickets are $10 to $20 ($5 for kids) and can be purchased at participating stores in the Plaza. Sun., June 8, 1-4 p.m., 2008